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General health

No gallstones seen, still pain there, doc says go to A&E but don't want to!

30 replies

DaysieGoneBananas · 11/07/2012 00:47

Last year had the same pain under right ribs and up into my back. Scan showed no stone in gall bladder. Started again 6 weeks ago. Really tender (screamed when Doc pressed on it) on my right side. Can't sleep tonight. Had a scan and no gallstiones were seen but the pain is still severe and Doc says can't understand why scan didn't show anything (she seemed to be saying I was putting it on)
She said she would refer me to a surgoen to see what to do. Been checking with receptionists and I haven't been referred yet. Its kiling me and Dr said to go to A and E if pain got too bad but I feel like I'm a fraud and that I can't just aske them to make it stop hurting. Its just pain. Paracetamol and Ibuprofen son't make a dent in it and Dr wouldn't give me anything else. I just sit with my hot water bottle. Grit my teeth and bear it seems to be the way to go.
Anyone have

  1. any idea what else it could be besides gallstones (have got a slightly fatty liver but nothing significant and gallbladder lining is thicker than usual)
  2. any ideas on how to get rid of the pain. REALLY wouldn't liek to go to A and E as would feel like I was putting it on.
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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/07/2012 01:00

I would go to A and E.

You clearly aren't putting it on, you would get decent pain relief and it would hopefully kickstart investigation into the cause.

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/07/2012 01:03

Also I don't think your doctor is saying you are putting it on, quite the opposite, she clearly believes you are having real pain and was surprised there is not a glaringly obvious cause. If she thought you were putting it on she wouldn't refer you to a surgeon or recommend A and E.

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DaysieGoneBananas · 11/07/2012 01:16

sorry if I sounded peevish. Its just this particular Doctor. One reason I thought she didn't believe me was that when she said 'I will refer you to a surgeon' she seemed genuinely shocked when I said fine. SHe has a bit of an strange personality though so maybe I'm reading her wrong.
She also said to phone an ambulance which I never like doing even the other day I was a littel wary and my son was havign difficulty breathing I kept apologising. All the publicity now about where is the 'right' place to go for whatever ailment you have has me second guessing myself! SOrry bit of a rant there!

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fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 11/07/2012 01:23

Oh no you don't sound peevish at all. She would never have said phone an ambulance if she didn't believe you. You sound very stoic, but please do go and get pain relief if you are suffering so much. Have a hug too.

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sashh · 11/07/2012 07:25

Go to A and E - they can gve ou morphine.

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CutItOutAndRestart · 11/07/2012 07:41

go to a&e. I am still in pain post gallbladder removal and after the last bad attack a visit to a&e was the only way the pain could be managed (morphine) and it also got me referred for further investigation.

hope you feel better soon, but don't be afraid to get help if you are in pain.

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Groovee · 11/07/2012 07:44

It could be your gall bladder is inflamed. If you start a food diary, then you may find your trigger. If its painful, get it seen at the time as A&E will do a blood sample and if your liver function is affected then it will be related to the gall bladder x

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DaysieGoneBananas · 11/07/2012 10:35

Thanks for all that. Dr said the lining/casng of my gallbladder is thecker than normal which shows it was inflamed before but they didn't find anything then either. Do you think I should go back to a different doctor as I have checked with the receptionists and there has been no referral letter sent. Maybe A and E would be a good idea.

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alwaysme · 11/07/2012 19:15

Take the "not Gallbladder" diagnosis with a pinch of salt !!

Two years ago, Doctor sent me for a scan. Women who preformed it made me feel like a right timewaster. Wanted to know why the doctor had sent me, I didn't fit any of the criteria (whatever they might be???) and she had rarely seen a healthier one.

So fast forward to a year later, after two hospital stays and no one checking the gall bladder again, guess what, someone finally did. It was so enlarged with puss and stones it was on the verge of rupturing. Also 4 stones blocking bile duct which gave me a nice dose of pancreaitits on top.

Definitely get a second opinion!

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TapirBackRider · 13/07/2012 05:11

Simply because no large stones can be seen on the scan doesn't mean that there aren't any.

A lot of gallbladder problems are caused by the bladder being full of small stones called gravel, mixed with bile to become a nasty sludge. It causes exactly the same symptoms and pain as large stones, and is a lot harder to detect on a scan but does cause the inflammation in the lining.

Definitely go and see a different doctor; get yourself referred - I've been where you are, and it's not nice to be messed around like this. Tell them how bad the pain is - I was given tramadol.

I would say though, if the pain does get really bad, and you start to vomit, please go to A&E.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

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sharklet · 13/07/2012 05:28

Also it is worth noting there are two kinds of gallstones, calcium and cholesterol. What kind of scan did you have? xray or ultrasound? If you only had one then ot could be the other kind. Also like the poster above says the "stones" can be a slurry of gravel whihc is harder to see with less sensitive equipment.

Either go to A&E or ask to see someone else. If you are not heading out tonight here are a few things to help. Lie on your left side, propped up a bit and prepare not to move much for about 4 or 5 hours (this will help the passage of stone or stones), take some good painkillers ibuprofen or such or if you have any good strong prescribed ones for period pains these would help. If you have any flax seed in your house (ground), make a tea from it and let it cool them sip it slowly over time. It is FOUL - but it really helps ease gallstone pain.

I have a ton of info on coping with gallstones without surgery, as in my family even after surgery the pain continues - so have had to find ways of coping. Let me know if you want some info and I can pass it on.

The danger if you don't get seen and monitored then you could end up with pancreatitis which is horrible and much worse than gallstone pain.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

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gavind · 29/11/2012 18:40

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digerd · 29/11/2012 20:41

The strongest painkillers available over the counter are those with codeine in them. Nurofen Plus is a combination of Ibrufen and Codeine. Other combinations are Paracetamol and Codeine. There used to be soluble ones that don't taste very nice but are effective quicker.
Definitely advise A&E for you, though.

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hellymelly · 29/11/2012 21:27

I am also in similar pain- I do have stones (they showed up on a scan of my kidneys a di've just had a kidney infection) But the lining was thin, so I'm not sure if its the gallbladder causing me pain or my back. Sharklet how do you make that flaxseed tea? My GP was very blase about the stones, said that most people have them.
(the pain I get is between my shoulder blades, and in the centre of my chest where my bra wires meet iyswim).
How can one differentiate gallstone pain from something else?

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chocaholic73 · 30/11/2012 10:38

helly melly A lot of people do have gallstones and no symptoms apparently but if you are having symptoms, it should not be ignored by your GP. It does sound very much like gallstones. After I had a major episode in the summer, the hospital told me to stick to a 5% fat diet while waiting for surgery. I have to say it worked very well for me right up until I had the gall bladder out last Friday!

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Showtime · 30/11/2012 13:32

Thinking the GP's expecting you to go to A&E as she's uncertain of diagnosis, and anyone with chronic pain can ask for referral to Pain Clinic, despite long waiting lists, they have more than meds available. Good luck.

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hellymelly · 30/11/2012 15:16

Oh choco, how are you now? (and more importantly will you be able to eat chocolate again?). What is a major episode, lots of pain?

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chocaholic73 · 30/11/2012 16:33

I'm getting there helly. I do hope I will be able to eat at least some chocolate again soon Smile. By a major episode, I mean up all night in absolute agony with vomiting and no easing up. Ended up in A&E where they diagnosed cholyocystitis (inflammation of the gall bladder). I was in for 3 days while it settled but they wouldn't operate at that time as they said things needed to settle down first. I did already know I had gallstones, following an earlier ultrasound, but had chosen not to be referred for surgery. At that time, the attacks would last 2 or 3 hours then gradually fade out.

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DaysieGoneBananas · 01/12/2012 01:02

Ooh Choc i don't envy you at all! For the chocolate deprivation as well as the pain!
I went to A and E in the end. I ended up being nil by mouth for two days then they sent me home. I had an appointment with a surgeon. Scan...again showed nothing. But I don't think they are doing the scans at the right time..I think I may have little stones that pass and thats when I have the hideous pain...then they scan me and its gone so there's nothing to see. Soooo as I still have niggly pain now and then I now have to go for a gastroscopy to see if there's anything they are missing. That was supposed to be the 26th Nov but I have nobody to look after the DCs so have had to postpone to the next available appointment which is the 7th January. Nice New Year pressie for me then!
TBH I wish i could just get the pain again and have someone diagnose there and then and have them whip it out. also i might lose a bit more weight! (I know its no laughing matter but if I don't I'll cry)

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chocaholic73 · 01/12/2012 12:15

It's funny what you get used to - I would have said that I couldn't possibly manage without chocolate ...or cheese is another thing I used to love - but when you have been in so much pain, you will do anything in the hope it will help. My understanding is that you don't usually just have one stone which causes pain in passing, there's usually more just sitting there in the gallbladder - I would imagine they take some time to form. Having now had the pathology report on my gallbladder, it shows that it wasn't in the best shape so probably wasn't functioning very well but a thickening plus stones had showed up on the scan. Unfortunately, it does look as if you need more investigating ...poor you ...hope it goes well.

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Elibean · 01/12/2012 16:22

My friend's dad had a huge gallstone, and it didn't show up on a scan. It did show up on an MRI, when he was eventually admitted to hospital in agony Hmm

My friend is a doctor. She was hugely frustrated that no one would listen when it was obviously gallstones...and she would sympathise with you, OP. I hope you get some help, and don't be afraid to go to A&E: you are not putting it on!

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Netsfedup · 17/01/2013 12:46

Found all this info comforting in a weird way! Been having attacks for months, had an US Scan last week and told I had gall stones and to wait for appointment at hospital. Sods law -ended up in A&E early hours of Monday morning in agony !!!!! Given Tramadol and told to eat a low fat diet and wait for appointment and sent home. Attack over but left with a horrible ache under my ribs, feeling ropey and constantly tired. NHS staff were fantastic with me and sympathetic but now really worried on how long it will take to remove this 'thing' - winge over for now lol!!!

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Mynewmoniker · 16/04/2013 00:38

Experiencing something simillar, Netsfedup. How are you doing; what happened?

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gingeroots · 16/04/2013 05:59

gonebanannas how are you ?

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DaysieGoneBananas · 17/04/2013 09:51

Hi..I went for my UGI. They found a 'nodule' from which they took a biopsy. They then referred me back to GP not consultant and gave me some tablets to reduce the acidity in my stomach as nodule was pre ulcerous. Which has nothing to do with the pain I still get on the other side of my stomach . Not especially thrilled with having to take the tablets forevermore when thats not what is causing the pain. Been discharged from consultants care. Niggly pain still there under right ribs and in my back. When I cllapse in pain next time they might find something not bitter and twisted at all

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